Severe exacerbations are prevalent in a subgroup of patients with COPD and generally warrant a hospitalization. During the hospitalization, patients are extremely physically inactive with only a limited recovery one month after discharge. Physical inactivity is associated with negative health benefits. Therefore intervening in the period after and exacerbation seems useful to improve the levels of physical activity. Physical activity counseling and real-time feedback have already been applied in stable patients with COPD, with beneficial effects.The present study will investigate whether this specific intervention will help to improve the activity level in patients after an acute exacerbation. Further we investigated the effects of the intervention on improvements in functional exercise capacity.
After signing the informed consent, the patients will be randomized into a control group, receiving usual care, or the intervention group receiving real-time feedback and physical activity counseling. Intervention: Physical activity counseling will be provided by 3 weekly telephone contacts based on the step count from the Fitbit Ultra. In agreement with the patient and based on the step counts a patients provided, a new goal for the next week was set. The goal was to strive for the highest possible level of physical activity during one month.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
30
Counseling about physical activity will only be provided in the intervention group by 3 weekly telephone contacts. Based on the information the physiotherapist receives, he or she will adapt the goal (in agreement with the patient) and motivate the patient to reach the individual goal.
University Hospital Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Improvement in physical activity
The Dynaport MoveMonitor, a valid device in patients with COPD, was used to accurately measure the level of physical activity. The device was provided 3 times to the patients (baseline, after 2 weeks, after 1 month). The amount of steps, measured by this device, was used as the outcome measure.
Time frame: 1 month
Improvement in functional exercise capacity
Functional exercise capacity was measured by the six minutes walking distance test (6MWD; meter). This measurement was performed at baseline and after 1 month.
Time frame: 1 month
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